Dry mineral separator and concentrator



No. 614,574. I Patented Nov. 22, I898. G. H. PATTERSON.

DRY MINERAL SEPABATOR AND GUNGENTBATOB.

(Application filed July 30, 1897.)

(No Model.)

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NITED STATES PATENT EFicE.

] GEORGE HUTTON PATTERSON, or DENVER, COLORADO.

DRY MINERAL SEPARATOR AND CONCENTRATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 614,574, dated November22, 1898.

I 7 Application filed July 30, 1897. Serial No. 646,478. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, GEORGE HUTTON PAT- TERSON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residin g at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State ofColorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in DryMineral Separators and Concentrators, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in dry mineral separators andconcentrators of the class provided with an air-blast for separating thelighter gangue from the mineral values.

The object of my present invention is to provide a machine which willseparate not only the lighter gangue, but alsothe heavier gangue orblack iron sand and all magnetic material, and to concentrate thelighter minerals in a separate compartment.

The ore is fed from a suitable hopper to movable trays covered withcopper or other metal riffies, which may be treated with dry quicksilveror otherwise, as found desirable,

and while dropping from one tray to another it is subjected to anair-blast which removes the lighter particles of gangue. After leavingthe lower riffies it falls upon magnetic rolls which separate the blackiron sand and magnetic material from the gold, silver, and platinum, thelatter falling into a receptacle beneath, while lighter values by properscreens duly arranged are carried into another compartment as aconcentrate free of slimes, the slimes being carried off.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment ofmy invention, Figure 1 is a vertical section taken through the completemachine. Figs. 2 and 3 show details.

5 designates a suitable casing upon which is mounted a stationary hopper3, having a screen 2 at its lower extremity. Within this hopper is amovable hopper 1, which receives the material and feedsit to the outerstationary hopper, which directs the material to the upper riffle-tray4. Beneath the riffle-tray 4 is located another riffie-tray 6, and inline with the space between these riffle-trays is a vertical screen 7,stretched across the path of an air-current generated by suitableblastinducing mechanism 8. The trays 4 and 6' are subjected to avibratory movement by any suitable mechanism. 7 The trays are suspendedand carried by springs 11 11, facilitating the movement of the materialfalling therein.

To the right and in the path of the air-current are screens 12 12. Themesh of these screens 12 12 may be regulated as desired, each having adifferent mesh. Above the screens 7 and 12 12 is formed an air-expansionchamber 13, arranged and fitted with screen landing-trays 13 of finemeshes, varying in size, as desired, with screens 14 across the outletof this chamber, all so located as to catch the fine oriioat mineralheld in suspension by the air-current. The air-current is under control,which allows for increase or decrease of the blast, as desired, to treatthe material presented to it.

The space within the casing 5 is divided into compartments 15, 16, 17,18, and 19 by means of suitable partitions.

The magnetic rolls 20 and 21 are located mainly in compartment 16, butproject into compartments 15 and 17, respectively. The brushes 22 and23, which engage the rolls, are so located as to brush the magneticmaterial into the compartments 15 and 17. The arrangement-of the partsis such that the gold and silver, which are non-magnetic, are carried toa drawer 2d placed in the bottom of compartment 16.

In operating the machine the rolls 20 and 21 are rotated in oppositedirections, as indicated by the arrows. This may be accomplished by acrossed belt connecting pulleys on their respective shafts or in anyother suitable manner. These rolls are charged by a direct current fromany convenient electric source or by dynamo attached to each machine.The brushes 22 and 23 are revolved against the rolls and run in theopposite direction to the rolls by any suitable mechanism, as cross-beltand pulleys on their respective shafts. The revolving brushes asarranged are more efficient in cleaning the rolls than any other method.

The hopperl is trunnioned within the easing 5 and may be actuated by acam-Wheel 25, which engages a projecting arm a on the hopper, and in themovement the lower end of the hopper is thrown against a resilientbuftoo fer 26. The hopper rebounds from this shock and this keeps up themovement necessary to feed the material to the screen 2 at the mouth ofthe hopper. The amount of movement of the hopper is regulated by thescrew 27 passing through the arm a. The hopper has an open side closedby a movable gate 28, regulated by screw 29, which is raised or lowered,as desired, to regulate the feed or to shut off the material fromfeeding into the machine, if required. The material passes to theinclined rifile-tray 4, which disintegrates and breaks up any of the orewhich may be inclined to cling together in masses, and after passingover this tray 4 the material falls into the path of the current fromthe air-blast. The mineral, together with the heavy fine gangue, asblack iron sand, will fall upon the riffle-tray 6, while the heaviergangue will pass through the screen and fall into compartment 18. Thelight fine gangue is carried by the air-blast through the screens 7 and12, thence discharged from the machine.

The material rejected by the fine screen 12 will fall into thecompartment 18 as a concentrate, while the material rejected by screen12 will fall into compartment 19 as tailings. The mineral and magneticiron sand which have fallen upon the inclined vibrating riffietray 6pass thence to the upper magnetic roll 20. The black sand and othermagnetic material cling to this roll, while the gold and silver ornon-magnetic metals fall downward through the compartment 16 into thereceptacle 24. The black sand or other magnetic material which escapesthe roll 20 will be caught by the roll- 21 below, thus efitecting acomplete separation of all magnetic material from the mineral. Thepartitions of the compartment 16 are so arranged as to bring thematerial sufficiently near to the magnetic rolls to enable them toperform their function to the best possible advantage.

Below the riflie-trays 4 and 6 I place bumpers 80, at least two for eachtray, only one of which is shown, these being so arranged as to strikethe bottom of the trays, and thus prevent material from lodging orsticking thereto and also facilitate the downward movement of thematerial. These bumpers 30 are actuated by any suitable devices, such asarms 0 and G on shaft N, the arm G being operated by a cam L on theshaft K. The force of the blow can be controlled and made more or less,as required.

This invention is not only applicable for dry placer work, but is evenbetter for free gold, silver, and platinum ores. hen

the ore is crushed to about seventy mesh, it separates the mineral in aclean clear manner from all the gangue matter and where pyrites arepresent acts as a concentrator thereof as well.

The air-expansion chamber 13 is most important, asby it the fine gold issecured, which is otherwise carried out by the strong blast. By thischamber the air immediately loses its force by the expansion, so thatthe fine gold carried up by the force simply settles down the moment thepressure is released and lands upon fine-mesh screens contained in thechamher. At the same time the air escapes without pressure beyond whatis necessary to carry out the fine gangue or slimes.

I do not limit myself to any particular application of the invention, asit may be used in many other situations than those enumerated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In combination,the hopper, the riflieplates 4 and 6 arranged with a space between thesame, an air-blast device discharging in between the riiTle-plates, ascreen arranged directly across the path of said blast and an enlargedexpansion-chamber situated above the direct discharge and a series ofscreens within said chamber, substantially as described.

2. In combination, the hopper, the riffieplates 4 and 6arranged with aspace between the same, an air-blast device discharging in between theriffle-plates, a screen arranged directly across the path of said blastand an enlarged expansion-chamber situated above the direct discharge,aseries of superimposed screens arranged horizontally in said chamher,and a cross-screen to the rear of said horizontal screens extending fromside to side of said chamber, substantially as described.

3. In combination, the riffle-plates, the stationary outer hopper, andfeeding mechanism comprising a supplemental hopper extending down intothe main hopper and hung therein means for giving the inner hopper ajarring irregular oscillating movement laterally in relation to the mainhopper, and a gate for the supplemental hopper carried directly thereby,substantially as described.

4. In a separator, a stationary hopper, a movable hopper within thesame, a gate controlling the opening from said movable hopper, a bufferin line with the lower end of the hopper, and means for vibrating thehopper, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE HUTTON PATTERSON.

Witnesses:

P. NORMAN NIssnN, AUG. SCHNEIDER.

